The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-26

. quality that had been troubled and
darkened by those relations, yet, when
they were broken, at once returned. II
consequently did not occur to him that he
had only selfishly compromised with the
difficulty; 1t seemed to him enough that
he had withdrawn from compact he
thought dishonorable; he was not called
upon to betray his partner in that COM
pact merely to benefit Others. He had
been willing to incur suspicion and loss
to reinstate himself in his self respect,
more he could not do without justify
ing that suspicion. The view taken
by Sleight was, after all, that which most
business men would take-which even the
unbusinesslike Mott would take-which
the girl herself might be tempted to listen
to. Clearly he could do nothing but aban-
don the Pontiac and her owner to the
fate he could not in honor avert. And
even that fate was problematical. 1t did
not follow that the treasure was still con-
cealed in the Pontiac, nor that Mott would
be willing to sell her. He would make
some excuse to Nott-he smiled to think
he would probably be classed in the long
line of absconding tenants-he would say
goodby to Rosey. and leave for Sacra-
mento that night. He assembled the stairs
to the gangway with freer breast than
when he first entered the ship.
Mr.. Mott was evidently absent, and after
a quick glance at the half open cabin
door, Renshaw turned towards the galley.
But Miss Rosey was not in her accus-
toned haunt, and with a feeling Of disap-
pointment, which seemed inconsistent
with so slight cause, he crossed the deck
impatiently, and entered his room. He
was about to close the door when the pro-
longed rustic of trailing skirt in the
passage attracted his attention. The
sound was so unlike that made by any
garment worn by Rosey that he remained
motionless, with his hand on the door.
The sound approached nearer, and the
next moment white yelled figure with q
trailing skirt slowly swept past the room.
Renshaw's pulses halted for an instant in
half superstitious awe. AS the appari-
ton glded on and vanished in the cabin
door he could only see that 1t was the
form of beautiful and graceful woman
but nothing more. Bewldered and
curious, he forgot himself so far rs to
follow it, and impulsively entered the
cabin. The figure turned, uttered little
CRY, threw the veil aside, and showed the
half troubled, half blushing face of
Rosey.
"I-beg-your pardon" stammered
Renshaw; Il didn't know it was YOU"
81 was trying on some things" said
Rosey, recovering her composure and
pointing to an open trunk that seemed to
contain q theatrical wardrobe-'sOme
things father gave me long ago. WANTED
to see if there was anything l could use.
Thought was all alone in the ship, but
fancying heard noise forward l came
out to see what it was. / suppose it must
have been you"
She raised her clear eyes to his, with a
slight touch OF womanly reserve that was
so incompatible with any vulgar vanity or
girlish coquetry that he became the more
embarrassed. Her dress, too, OF a
slightly antique shape, rich but simple,
seemed TO reveal anu aCCeHIa certain re-
pose of gentlewomanliness, that he was
now wishing to believe he had always
noticed. Conscious of a superiority in
her that now seemed to change their re.
lations completely, he alone remained 81
lent, awkward and embarrassed before
the girl who had taken care of his room,
and who cooked in the galley! What he
had thoughtlessly considered merely
vulgar business intrigue against her stupid
father, now to his eXtravagant fancy as
sumed the proportions OF a sacrilege to
herself.
"You've had your revenge, Miss Mott,
for the fright once gave you," he said a
little uneasily, 'for you quite startled me
Just now as you passed. l began to think
the Pontiac was haunted. thought you
were ghost don't know why such q
ghost should brighten anybody" he went
on with a desperate attempt to recover
his position by gallantry. LET me see
that's Donna Elvira's dress-is it not?"